Okay, three quick points: Those who keep claiming that the November mid-terms were a rebuke of President Obama might want to re-check their data. Less than 35 percent of the exit-poll data collected on the elections—with exit-polling having been shown to be a much better indicator of voter sentiment and purpose than any pundit’s personal view—have concluded that people voted against President Obama in making their choice of congressperson. That’s only 1/3 of the vote. The other 65 percent or so said their congressional choices had more to do with the particular candidates running at that time, but had little or nothing to do with the president.
Second point: Selma, the people’s march in 1965 was a spectacular series of events in American history, and was well told in “Selma” the movie. No, the movie will not win a great number of awards from the Oscars panelists. Yes, it was an outstanding creative accomplishment for the director and co-screen writer, Ava Duvernay, and her whole cast and crew. No, it was not completely factual—and no, that was not the point. It was a movie about a process, not a documentary or history book. Nobody knows what exactly happened in the bedroom of Martin and Coretta Scott King, so the moviemakers made it up for the sake of the drama. Rev. James Bevel did not wear a Muslim-looking kofia on his head most of the time (in the midst of a deeply religious Bible-belt of Black folk who would not have understood it), and Rev. James Orange, almost always had on farmer’s overalls when he was in the field organizing folk, not a suit and tie. Again, this was a movie that presented a dramatic narrative, not a by-the-book history lesson.
But the movie and its director have been severely criticized lately for deviating from some of the real history of that moment in time-particularly the depiction of former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s role in the events. In the movie, LBJ, and to a lesser extent Eugene “Bull” Conner, the high sheriff (Commissioner of Public Safety), were the antagonists for Dr. King’s protagonist role. Any good movie needs that. Interestingly, virtually nobody has rushed forth to claim that Bull Connor or the other Alabama police and officials were incorrectly characterized. LBJ, however, has had his defenders, Black and White. Julian Bond, whose civil rights pedigree is beyond reproach, has said that LBJ was, in fact, much more of a partner with Dr. King and his staff, on getting the 1964 (CRA) and 1965 (VRA) laws passed. Andrew Young, who was there during those halcyon days, said he never remembered any real confrontation between Dr. King and LBJ over the voting rights issue. Joseph Califano, a former aide to LBJ, takes it even further by saying that the Selma march was LBJ’s idea to begin with.
The latter is pure heresy to many. It was the sort of statement that had gotten Hillary Clinton in trouble in 2008 when she was running against Barack Obama in the democratic primaries. It’s also not true. But, again, that wasn’t the point. The director, Ava Duvernay, has said that she had no interest in making a “White-savior” movie, and she didn’t. The achievement of the CRA and the VRA was the product of many individual and group efforts, and the consistent courage of thousands of Americans of good will. The movie showed that. When it would have been far easier to just give up and settle for the meager portion allotted to Black folks then, many, refused. The movie showed that. The tapestry of the Civil Rights Movement at that time had multiple colors, shadings, smooth and odd pieces sewn together, and the movie often hinted at or directly showed that. Selma, the reality, was not just about Dr. King, and the movie was emphatic about that.
But all told, the movie did not lionize Whites—it included them. They were participants, not the initiators. That’s still hard to swallow for some folks who are still used to their alliances leading to taking charge. Remember the movie “Biko” a few years ago, in which Denzel Washington did a fine, nuanced portrayal? Only the first half of the movie was about Steve Biko, the last half was about the life of the White reporter who had befriended Biko. In “Selma” many of the critics would have been satisfied with more scenes of LBJ’s leadership role too.
Last point: For youth in the movement, especially as it pertains to the creation of Black Studies programs and departments, the Black Panther Party, the Black Liberation Army, and almost all of the other youth variants of the Movement for Dignity and Respect, the real march was the Mississippi March from Greenwood to Jackson in 1966, the year after Selma. Out of that majestic march came the concept of Black Power, the first all Black political party (Lowndes County Freedom Party), the thrust for Black Studies, etc.
That’s the movie I want to see made.
Professor David L. Horne is founder and executive director of PAPPEI, the Pan African Public Policy and Ethical Institute, which is a new 501(c)(3) pending community-based organization or non-governmental organization (NGO). It is the stepparent organization for the California Black Think Tank which still operates and which meets every fourth Friday.
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